Starter for internal-combustion engines



Feb. 12, 1952 w, H R 2,585,313

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 29, 1950 IN V EN TOR. 60.9 7771/1905 M #9? 7 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a starter for internal combustion engines and more particularly to a starter for small engines such as commonly used on lawn mowers, garden tractors and other power driven implements.

It is an object of this invention to provide an engine starter which may be readily and conveniently handled for quickly starting an internal combustion engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a starting device which is portable and may be used on different internal combustion engines.

A still further object is to provide such a starter which may be connected to a convenient source of electric current.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved startin device showing the manner in which the same is used in starting an internal combustion englne.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of said starting device.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the starting device with parts thereof shown in central vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the starting device with the base thereof shown in vertical section.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the said starting device with the base thereof shown in section through the pivotal connection for the supporting leg.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front View of the base member for said starting device.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes an internal combustion engine which may be of any conventional type, such as commonly employed on power driven implements, and 6 denotes a supporting platform such as frequently used for supporting the said engines.

The engine shown includes a crank shaft 1 which commonly has a fly wheel attached thereto, not shown, but which may be contained within a cover, indicated at 8. The crank shaft is commonly provided with a drum on which a starting rope may be wound for starting the engine. With the use of my improved starter, the drum is removed and the crank shaft is provided with a suitable pulley 9.

My improved starter preferably comprises an electric motor l0 having a handle II by means of which it may be conveniently carried. The said motor is mounted on a base member 12 having a supporting leg which includes an upper portion l3 that is pivotally secured to the base member, as at I3-a, and a lower portion [4 which is slidably adjustable on the upper portion by means of a screw and nut, indicated at I5, to support the starting device at the required height upon the platform 6 with relation to the pulley 9 of the engine. The motor ID has a drive shaft 15 upon which there is mounted a drive pulley ll carrying thereon a drive belt I8. A retainer, in the form of a cover l9 ,-is mounted to the motor I!) and extends therefrom over'the pulley I1 and is adapted to retain the drive belt l8 on the Dulley IT to prevent the said belt from becoming lost or detached from the starting device.

The said starter is provided with an operatin handle 20 upon the rear end thereof which may carry an electric switch having an operating pushbutton 2|, and an electric conductor cord 22 for the motor 10 may extend through said handle.

The supporting leg for my improved engine starter is normally yielding retained in its operating position by means of a suitable spring member 23 which urges the said leg to rotate about its pivot into engagement with a positioning abutment portion 24 on the base 12. If desired, a spring clip 25 may be provided on said base to receive the supporting leg whenever it may be desired to have it retained in its retracted position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In the use of my improved starting device, the supporting leg is first adjusted to support the device at the proper height, relatively to the engine which is to be started, to permit operating engagement between the pulley 9 and the driving belt 18 of the starter. The said starter is then connected to a convenient source of electric current, the driving belt I 8 is placed around the pulley 9 and the foot of the supporting leg is placed upon the platform 6 adjacent to the said pulley. The operator then presses downwardly upon the handle 20 while operating the pushbutton 2| to cause energization of the motor Ill and the rotation of the drive pulley l1.

The downward movement of the handle 20 will cause the motor II] to rock on the pivotal point I3-a and thereby move the pulley l1 upwardly and in a direction away from the pulley 9 of the engine so that the drive belt l8 will be tightened against the said pulley 9 and thus cause it to be driven by the starting motor in for rotating the engine shaft 1 and starting the said engine.

It will be noted that by pivotally supportin the starter upon the supporting leg, there is pro- 3 vided an important advantage in the operation of my improved starter since it greatly facilitates the application of the necessary pull upon the drive belt l8 to cause the driving rotation of the pulley 9 and the starting of the engine.

I claim:

1. An electric starting device for an internal combustion engine having a pulley on the crank shaft thereof; the said device comprising an electric motor, a drive shaft in said motor, means on said shaft for driving the said pulley, an operating handle on said motor, and a leg for supporting said motor in position for rotating the pulley; the said leg being pivotally mounted to the motor, and spring means normally urging the leg into extended position for supporting the motor and permitting pivotal movement of the motor on said leg by the manipulation of the handle.

2. An electric starting device for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said leg is provided with an adjustable extension for supporting the motor at difierent heights above a supporting surface on which the leg rests.

3. An electric starting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a spring clip is provided for retainin the supporting leg in retracted position adjacent to said motor and against the tension of the spring means.

4. An electric starting device for an internal combustion engine having a pulley on the crank shaft thereof, the said device comprising an electric motor, a drive shaft in said motor, a pulley on said shaft, a. driving belt on said pulley, a

bracket secured to the side of said motor, a sup porting leg pivotally mounted on said bracket, a stop on said bracket engageable by said leg to position and locate the leg in extended position, a spring member between said bracket and leg normally urging the leg into extended position and against said stop for supporting the motor for pivotal movement on said leg to cause driving engagement of the belt with the pulley on the crank shaft.

5. An electric starting device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the leg is provided with an adjustable extension for positioning the motor at different heights above a supporting surface upon which the leg rests.

6. An electric starting device as set forth in claim 5 wherein a spring clip is mounted on the bracket for retaining the leg in retracted position against the tension of the spring member.

GUSTAVEUS W. HART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,168,440 Thompson Jan. 18, 1916 1,719,102 Dickey July 2, 1929 2,176,193 Zwick Oct. 17, 1939 2,220,220 Cusimano 'Nov. 5, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 521,757 Germany Mar. 25, 1931 

